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How changes to NFL extra points might impact Cardinals

Kicker Chandler Catanzaro made all 27 extra point attempts a year ago. On field goal attempts of less than 40 yards, he was 12 of 14, with the two misses coming against the Chiefs (36, 34).(Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

On Tuesday, NFL owners approved changes to points after touchdowns, moving the ball to the 15-yard line for kicks and allowing the defense to score two points by returning a turnover or blocked kick.

The two-point conversion attempt will still be from the 2-yard line.

I don't think it's going to change the game much. Kickers will still make more than 90 percent of extra points from that distance, 33 yards. And with the conversion staying at the 2-yard line, I don't think coaches are going to be enticed to go for two points more often.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians proposed moving the conversion to the 1 ½-yard line in order to make the option more attractive.

Players such as Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas would have benefited. Thomas is built like a tight end (6-6, 250 pounds) but he runs faster than most tight ends. Being a half yard closer to end zone on conversions could only help Thomas' chance of making the team and being active on game day.

-- Kicker Chandler Catanzaro made all 27 extra point attempts a year ago. On field goal attempts of less than 40 yards, he was 12 of 14, with the two misses coming against the Chiefs (36, 34).

-- Under Arians, the Cardinals have not been good at two-point conversions. In 2013, they were successful one time in four attempts. Last year, they were two of five. (Opponents were two for two in the last two seasons.)

-- It will be rare for a team to return a blocked kick or turnover for points, but the Cardinals are built to do it. Cornerback Justin Bethel is a threat off the edge. He has blocked three field goals in the last two years and returned a block for a touchdown in 2012. It was only the fifth time a Cardinals had done that since 1960.

-- Defensive end Calais Campbell, who is 6-feet-8-inches, is a threat up the middle. He's blocked six field goals in seven seasons.